a year ago today

A year ago today, I woke up to a call from my mom. She said that my father suffered what seemed to be a stroke. She sounded distressed yet impossibly composed at the same time. A few minutes after hearing the news, I got myself an afternoon flight to Cagayan de Oro.

I could not accurately describe what transpired that Thursday afternoon. Suffice to say that our family went through a hodgepodge of emotions - from fear to grief, from helplessness to acceptance and from comfort to hope. The scenes that unfolded at the ICU in the next few days looked like a House storyline sans an acerbic doctor. Even with the faint resemblance, I knew that our lives would never be the same.

I just would like to thank my God for seeing us through that very difficult moment. I am humbled every time I remember how He amazingly brought something beautiful out of what this world would immediately dismiss as a tragedy. That is why I give Him the credit for restoring my father's health.

I also would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to my aunts and to my sister who immediately flew over just to be with us when we needed it the most. Thank you also to the hospital staff and the doctors who took good care of my dad from the time he was admitted until his release a few weeks later. The same goes to our friends, relatives and churchmates who paid us a visit, who texted an encouraging thought and who prayed silently for my father's speedy recovery.

And finally, may I dedicate this blog entry to my dad who has seen quite enough in this lifetime, but he refused to give up no matter what. Well, that was one heck of a fight you put up de. Someday, if my kids would ask me what courage, hope and patience is really all about, I'll glady point them to you.

A year after that fateful Thursday, I realized that God in his infinite wisdom, has a purpose for all our small troubles, for all our diseases and for all our pains. And in His own time and ways, he will turn every tear, every heartache and every sorrow for His greater glory.